Conrad Industries wins further North Carolina ferry order

N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has announced that a contract totaling $14.9 million has been awarded to Conrad Industries' subsidiary Orange Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas for the construction of a second new Sound Class ferry. It is being funded through federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

The estimate for the new passenger and vehicle ferry was $15.8 million and the bid came in 5.3 percent under that estimate at $14.9 million. The 220-foot by 50-foot vessel will join five Sound Class ferries currently serving the Pamlico Sound routes from Ocracoke to Cedar Island and Ocracoke to Swan Quarter. It is expected to be completed by May 2012.

As we reported earlier, Orange Shipbuilding is currently building the first new Sound Class ferry, which will be completed in summer 2011. The two new ferries will be sister ships, and will each have the capacity to carry 50 vehicles and 300 passengers. They will meet American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.